Monday, the boys and I went to Longville to visit the folks. Mom and dad have one chickens that have just hatched bunch of chicks and another chicken that was hatching a brood of chicks while we were there.
Before going to my parents we did a little fishing at my sister's pond. We caught a few fish but we released them, mostly because I did not feel like cleaning fish that afternoon.

Yesterday, I returned to work. Shortly after I reached our control room the sky ripped open and let loose a torrent of rain. We got more than four inches in a few hours. Much of the refinery was soon under water.

The only good thing to come from it was all the maintanance hands were rained out and sent home.

Work today was very busy. We have to catch up for what we missed yesterday.

In the book department, I've finished the Aeneid by Virgil. I enjoyed it. It was very Homer like, which I expected. I also finished Nathaniel Philbrick's Mayflower: A Story of Courage, Community and War. This a fascinating book about the English Pilgrims, Puritans and the Indians of New England. I highly recommend the work. My only critical point is I think he gives the native Americans a little to much "benefit of the doubt" on a few occasions. If you like American history this is a great book to read.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

Yesterday, Lisa, the boys, and I woke, got ready and went to Bethel Presbyterian Church (PCA) for worship services. Pastor Steve is preaching through the Creed. Yesterday's sermon was on "He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried" and it was very good.

Bethel is fairly liturgical for a modern Presbyterian Church, which I like because I prefer a more liturgical form of worship. We also celebrate the Eucharist every Lord's Day.

After worship service, we went to Tequila's Restaurant for dinner, then we came home. Most Sunday's we avoid work around the house, but this Sunday we had an ox in the ditch and so we had work to do. Lisa and I spent much of the rest of the day painting in our future family room.

Christian recently informed us that he has been engaged since April. We already know his fiancée. She is a pretty young lady from NW Pennsylvania. Her name is Jessica. We should have known that she was special, when he brought her home for a visit earlier this year.

Last night my 12 year old asked that I cook my only specialty for supper, so I made pain perdu (known as French Toast in non-Cajun Americans) for supper. Our daughter, Morgan came to visit and my pain perdu is one her favourites as well, so she joined us for supper.

After supper MK came over to visit. We opened a bottle of wine and sat on the porch and visited. Lisa and Morgan joined us on the porch for a little while. After the bottle was gone, MK and I went for a walk around the neighbourhood and spent that time in prayer.

It was a good Sunday.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

I was taken off shift Monday morning, and spent the rest of the week working (long) days.

This morning, Saturday, I slept in a bit and then got up and did some work around the house. I woke the boys at 9. Then I brought them to a birthday party at 11, while they were at the party I went to see Morgan. She was at work at the library.

This afternoon I watched a good portion of Fox News' tribute Tony Snow, who died of Colon Cancer this morning. My own brother, Gerry, was diagnosed with colon cancer eight years ago. He died five years ago after a three year battle with cancer. Colon cancer is a terrible disease and it is hard to watch someone you dearly love wither away while they battle this horrific cancer.

Yet, it is amazing how our great God uses such evils to bring glory His amazing grace and salvation to those who turn to him. Cancer, horrible as it is, gives the one stricken time to turn to Christ and find salvation in the only Saviour between God and man.

Tony Snow wrote about God's grace, even with cancer, after his cancer returned last year. You can read about it here in Christianity Today.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

Thursday, the boys and I went Longville for a visit. I filled the back of my truck with bags of leaves that we had racked up in the back yard. The leaves came from our Live Oak. I was not able to get all the leaves in the truck, but I got most of them. I will bring the rest of them. Dad and I dumped the leaves in his garden.

After a nice visit (and several cups of Community Coffee) with mom and pop the boys and I went to see Sandy and Brian's. We visited for a little while than the boys and I went for a swim in their pond. We did not bring our fishing gear, but we feed them. I took a fish of my son with the fish eating all around him. It was fun.

Lisa and I met Lynn and Morgan for supper at Casa Manana.Lisa and I decided to go dancing so we went to the Isle of Capri to see what band was playing. The band was Static, and Lisa and I danced almost non-stop for a couple of hours, before heading for home.

On Friday, Lisa and I slept in a bit, but we were up by 8AM and went for a walk and got soaked by a storm. Later Mark came over to build the new posts for the porch. I helped to get things started, but I had to take a nap so I could start the graveyard shift.

Morgan posted some photos from her wedding on her Facebook sight. You can click on the Facebook link to see the rest of them. I copied them (stole?) some of them and posted them below.






Our great and Holy Lord has been good to us.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

Yesterday, Christian left San Diego headed for Whidbey Island, Washington, which is in Puget Sound a few miles a little north of Seattle. He had a finder bender just outside of Anaheim. Thank the Lord, it did not do serious damage to his truck, but it did take out his AC.

I spoke with him off and on as he was driving yesterday. He decided that he would drive straight through. It was a 1,350 mile long drive and I was concerned with his decision, but he did OK. I did wake before 5 this morning and I called him. He was just about to cross into Oregon when he answered the phone. It was 3 AM his time. He asked me to stay on the phone with him. He said he was doing well and was not tired but talking with someone would still help.

He finally arrived at his base in the early afternoon his time. I was very relieved when his 22 hour (+ or -) drive came to a save end.

I also cut the grass in my yard, which was too long, and Lisa and I took the boys to see a movie this evening.

Now I'm ready to go to bed. Ive been up since before 5 AM, and I'm tired.

Coram Deo,

Kenith

I'm currently working days. One think about the group on my shift is we eat really good on most evenings and weekends. Today, Kratzer cooked a great meal. We had deer roast, pork roast and deer and pork sausage, with rice, corn and green beans. It was so good.

I brought drinks for today's meal, a twelve pack of Cokes, diet Cokes, Dr. Pepper and A&W Root beer. I also brought grapes for a snack.

We had a quiet day yesterday and today.

Since I worked this Sunday and missed worship service, I read St. Paul's epistle to the Philippians, and I plan to attend the Wednesday morning Eucharistic service at St. Michael's Episcopal Church.

I've started reading a short biography of Blaise Pascal.

Now, I plan to get a beer and then get cleaned up and ready for bed.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

We had an awesome thunderstorm roll through here about lunch time today. I had just fed the boys and so I took my hot cup of tea and went outside on the porch, sat on a bench and enjoyed the cool breese, the intense rain and the incredible lightning and thunder. AWESOME!!

I love storms, as long as I have a nice shelter over my head.

Later,
Kenith

On Sunday morning, Lisa was not feeling well, so I let her sleep. I let the boys sleep in also, but I got dressed and went to worship services. I went to St. Michael's Episcopal Church, so that I could get home more quickly than I could from Bethel. The minister at St. Michael's was a visiting pastor, because Rev. Cook was on vacation. I the service was nice, but I found the homily to be rather weak.

Sunday evening MK and his son came over. MK and I enjoyed a nice Zinfandel (not a "white" or "cafe" but a true red wine) and sat on the nearly completed porch and visited. Lisa did say hello, but our niece Kim and her daughter came over so the ladies talked inside, Mike and I did the same on the porch and the boys played all over.

On monday morning, my yongest son and I drove up to Longville. We fished in Sandy's pond for a little. We caught some perch and a bass, but it was getting hot so we went for a swim. After our swim we went to visit my parents. Mom had cooked some sausage and red gravyand my brother Terry had baked some flounder that he had caught the day before, so we feasted with them. Afterwards we drank coffee and talked. Before heading for home my son, dad and I picked blue berries (we picked two gallons). We ate a ton of them while picking them. They are so good.

Mark came over yesterday evening and we worked on the porch some more. Now all that is left to do is to install the new posts, wich he is making. When we finished our labour we ooled off on the porch with a couple of Sam Adam's Summer Ale. It is a very refreshing beer.

I little later Woody and Elisabeth walked over with their baby and joined us on the porch. Mark left shortly after and we moved the visit inside.

This morning, Lisa was up before the alarm went off and I got up shortly there after. She got ready for work and I came out on the porch with my French Press full of cofee, a cup (from Café Du Monde) and St Augustine's City of God. I have sat here on the porch, drank coffee, and read from the City of God. I also listend to part of a discussion betwen Richard Dawkins and Alister McGrath on my iPod.

Now that I have recorded all this on the blog, I need to get moving and start today's work.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

Thursday morning I finished this weeks set of nightshift. I got home a little before six AM. I let the dog out and played with her for a few minutes. Soon after I arrived Kevin and John came by for a beer (I had invited them). We sat on the porch, enjoyed a couple of Killians and talked.

After that they headed home and and I came in and got ready for bed. I woke up about noon. I had my typical graveyard groog but I did pull out my saw's all and cut the handrails of the porch.

On Friday I had a meeting (8:00 AM to 4:00PM) but I had to make 12 hours so I got to work at four in the morning. I used the extra time to get ready for the meeting. That evening Lisa and I went to Club 90 in Iowa, Louisana for a surprise retirement part for my good friend Bird (Wayne Partin).

This morning Mark came over. He got here about 8. Lisa had picked up donuts and I made coffee. She then left for work. Mark and I started taking the front porch apart. After demolishing it, we spen the rest of the day building a new one. We got about 90% of the work done and should finish it next week. The new porch is much stronger and looks a lot better than the old one. Lisa is very happy with it.

I took a little time from the porch to grill some steaks for lunch. This after noon Lisa took the boys to see Get Smart and I cleanup from our work.

Later,
Kenith

Last Saturday Lisa, her sister Rhonda and I went to Lafayette for the wedding of Rosalie Hays and 1st Lieutenant Alec Moyer. Lisa and I have been good friends with the Jon-Ella and David Hays for many years. The were members of Bethel when they lived in Lake Charles. In the aftermath of Hurricane Rita, Lisa, our boys and Lisa's sister Rhonda all stayed with the Hays for a number of weeks.

I've been working graveyards this week. I woke early on Wednesday (12:30 PM) and instead of going back to sleep, I took the boys swimming at the community pool, where we were joined by several of their friends. We stayed at the pool for an hour and a half. We then came home and they got ready to go to McNeese for a leisure learning art class that they are taking. The class is being taught by my son-in-law, Danny.

I then returned home, got ready for work, ran to the store to pick up a few items that we were low on. I brought the items home came to work. As I am writing this, it is now just after midnight and I'm starting to feel tired because I did not get my normal amount of sleep and swam instead. It is going to be a long night.

In the reading department I finished reading The Life of Philip Melanchthon by Frances Augustus Cox. The book was published in 1817 and proved to be a very good book.

Christian is in San Diego and will begin S.E.R.E. school soon. His drive to California proved interesting. His water pump went out on him about 5 or so miles after Junction, Texas. He called me and I was able to get in touch with the Sheriff's department. They gave me a number to the only tow truck in town.

So Christian was towed back into Junction, spent the night at the Lazy-T Motel, which is owned by a Navy retiree, who gave him a room for half price. The man who towed him in was also the mechanic, and he had Christian back on the road by mid morning on Monday. I spoke with him at 5 AM (our time) on Tuesday and he was in San Diego looking for a hotel to crash at for a few hours.

Today is our middle son's birthday. He turned twelve we went swimming for most of the afternoon and had a small party this evening.

31 May to 8 June 2008

I recently inherited, from my wife, her iPod. I bought her a new one for Mother’s Day. I was never very interested in having an iPod, but I now realize how much use I could make of one of these things.

Mine has eight gigs. I have downloaded numerous lectures from the web, I purchased C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce and The Abolition of Man from the iPod store and I also have Virgil’s Aeneid, which I got from the library. I am now very excited about my iPod.

I have finished several books. Lord of the Flies by William Golding and C.S. Lewis’ The Great Divorce and The Abolition of Man on audio book and I finally finished reading Three Empires of the Nile: The Victorian Jihad, 1869-1899 by Dominic Greene. I have started reading City of God by Saint Augustine and on audio book I’m listening to Virgil’s Aeneid. I checked the audio book out from the library and have up loaded onto my iPod. I’m now in book six.

Saturday before last I flew to Albuquerque, NM for our annual rescue school. I had an early flight and flew out from Lake Charles at 6:10 AM had a two hour layover in Houston and landed in Albuquerque about 10:30 AM. I took a cab to the Embassy Suites put up my stuff. The rest of the crew arrived just in time for happy hour, so we met down stairs for drinks (which are free from 5:30-7:30 PM).

I did not make it to worship services on Sunday. All eight members of the team went to the Sandia Peak Tramway and took it up the mountain. We looked around and then went down the other side of the mountain and back up on a ski lift. It is a beautiful place. I would like to take Lisa and the boys there some day.

Our training was a Roco Rescue one course. We have two members of the team who had not yet taken the rescue-one course, and we like to train as a team so eight of us (half the team) went to this course with our new members. It was a good refresher for the rest of us.

I loved the weather in Albuquerque. It never got very hot because the humidity was so low. When it did get hot, if you could get into the shade it became much cooler. The other great thing was at night it cooled of substantially. It cooled off into at least the 60’s at night and on one night the temperature dropped into the upper 40’s. It was great.

Our training involved a lot of physical work, but you never broke out into a sweat, because of the low humidity. I sweated more under the awning while waiting for my baggage at the Lake Charles’ Airport than I did the whole time I was working in New Mexico.

I returned home yesterday (Saturday). Christian was in town, he is driving out to San Diego for more training and stopped here for a few days. Lisa, Christian, the boys and I went to our community pool and swam for a while. After that we went to Outback for supper. Morgan and Danny joined us for supper, as did Eric. We had a good meal and a great visit.

This morning I cooked bacon and pain perdu (i.e. French toast) for breakfast and then we to Worship services as Bethel PCA. On the way to Bethel we stopped a Starbucks to see Morgan, who had to work. I got a cup of coffee (black) and one of the boys got some kind of lemonade. Morgan was able to take a break, so we visited for a few minutes then we went on to Bethel.

Pastor Wright has started preaching a series on the Apostles’ Creed. This morning’s sermon was excellent.

After church, Christian got his stuff together and headed out for San Diego. Lisa is on her way to Welch, LA to pick up Duke and Donna’s kids. Donna had surgery last week so we are going to keep their children tonight so that she can get some rest.

I am sitting on the front porch writing this. I have a fan going and it is a very nice (though humid) afternoon. After I post this on my blog I intend to open City of God and do a little reading.

Later,
Kenith

I have been absent from blogdom for over a month and during that time I've had only a few days of from work. I work shift work and each shift is 12 hours. Twice in the past month I worked an 84 hour week. That is half the hours in a week and these were very trying times at work. I have not had much time home and what little time I did have was not spent to blog.

I worked off Friday (and thankfully I am not on call). I invited a bunch of guys to come over for beer and Pizza on the front porch. A co-worker, Wayne "Bird" P. worked his last shift before his retirement so we drank beer, ate Pizza and wished him well.

While we were on the porch enjoying our Pizza and cold beer, Lisa took the boys to see the new Indiana Jones movie. We were still on the porh when they got home, but every one had gone home shortly there after.

Saturday, I took the boys to Longville. We visited with my folks and fished and swam in my sisters pond. We caught a few fish and swam a lot.

On Sunday we worshipped at Bethel after church we went to a buffet for lunch and then home for a little while. After that Lisa and I took the boys to Sulphur Parks and Recreation (SPAR) waterpark. We got a bit too much sun, but had fun.

Now I have yard work to do.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

I LOVE to read, and the subjects I read most are history and theology, but I don't limit myself to these catagories. I try to be fairly omnivourus in my reading so few subjets are off the table. The latest books that I've recently finished are A History of the Papacy During the Period of the Reformation Vol. IV and Vol. V by Mandell Creighton. I down loaded both volumes from Google Books and found them to be very informative. After I finished these two books, I looked for the other three volumes and I've down loaded them as well; I hope to read them pretty soon.

I listen to lots of books as well as read book. I recently finished R.C. Sproul's The H0liness of God on audio book. I checked it out from the Calcasieu Parish Public Library. The audio book I'm listening to now is Alexandre Dumas' The Man in the Iron Mask.

I am reading a number of items. Today I started a biography of Philip Melancthon. I am also reading the Epistles of Pope Gregory the Great, which can be found in the Second Series of the Nicene and Post Nicene Fathers (Vol. XII).

I like Old Books most of all.

Later,
Kenith

Last sunday, Lisa and I were still recovering from the wedding and reception. We awoke and I treated the Lisa the boys to breakfast. I cooked pain perdu. This is my one special meal that I cook when possible, usually as a Sunday morning treat before we get ready for worship services.

Monday morning I went to work and Christian headed back to Florida and the Navy. I worked my own shift and also two days overtime. Any overtime, as much as I dislike it, will be appreciated while we are recouping financially from the cost of Morgan and Danny's wedding and reception (BTW: It was beautiful, fun and worth every cent).

Friday evening Lisa and I went to the company shrimp boil. We had our fill of well seasoned boiled shrimp and cold beer (sadly it was BYOB) and visited with friends. After that we met Gary and Liz at the Isle of Capri. They had told us that Sean Vidrine and Swampfyre were playing. Lisa and I wanted to dance and we had heard that we could get in some jitter-bugging with this band.

We were not disappointed. I requested they play D.L. Menard's La Porte d'en Arrière, which is one of my favourite dance songs. It was great, the band started with the tempo a bit slow but sped things up each time around -- what fun!!! We danced a good bit, before it was time to head back home.

Lisa had to go to work this morning. I got up with her, but I've spent the morning relaxing. I read for a while, watched the News (the Pope is on Fox News celebrating Mass at St. Patrick Cathedral as I write this). As soon as I up load the blog I will start doing some needed work around the house.

Before I go, here are some more pictures from the reception:

Morgan and Danny

Morgan with Christian (in the cap)

Lindsey Janiese, our "official" photographer, and Morgan. We haven't go her picture yet, but she is very good at what she does.

Morgan with Woody (we went to Ireland last year when he married Elisabeth, Morgan's first cousin)

Lisa, Danny and Rhonda (Lisa's sister and Elisabeth's mom)

And here is Elisabeth. You can't tell but she will be delivering her and Woody's first child in early May (my great grand niece of nephew)

Well, I have work to do.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

I decided that tonight I will post some more pictures from our beautiful daughter's wedding reception. So here are some more pics:

Mo and her cousin Ryan.
Mo with here friends.
Bride and Groom with friends
again.

Friday evening my beautiful and only daughter got married to Danny in a beautiful ceremony at St. Margaret Catholic Church. After the wedding the reception was held in the pavilion at Prien Lake Park. As the old Cajun's say, "We passed a good time."

Morgan and Danny, of course, had the first dance.

Is the father of the bride, I got the second dance with Morgan. We danced to Jo-el Sonnier's version of Jolie Blonde.

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The next picture is Danny with his Mother.

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Now Lisa and Danny having a little fun. (notice the money on Danny--more on this below)

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Morgan with Gerald, her new Father-in-law.

It's a Cajun tradition to pin money on the Bride and Groom when you dance with them. It's a great tradition and helps the young couple have a good honeymoon.

I think everyone else there had a great time as well. We had lots of food, beer and wine to celebrate the marriage of Morgan and Danny. Marriage is a covenant relationship of a man and women before God and it is clear in Scripture that celebration with wine is aproved by the Lord in the Bible. When, at the wedding at Cana, Jesus turned water into wine he made a LOT of wine. Jesus made 200+ gallons of wine. We did not have that much wine or beer, but we had enough for everyone. It was a "Laissez les Bon Temps Rouler " event.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

My buddy MK came over this evening bearing gifts for my daughter's wedding. Morgan, my daughter, considers Mike (MK) to be her "other dad." She has known him for almost as long as she had been alive. MK is a doctor and he recently found out that he will be on call for her wedding night. Because of that fact, he will not be able to enjoy any strong drink at the reception, so he came over with a fifth of Scotch (Dalwhinnie--15 year old) and he and I consumed much (though not all) of it. We could celebrate a little before hand, since he will not be able to imbibe on Friday night.

Mike is a great friend. Morgan my daughter came home and visited with us for a while. We looked a pictures and some You Tube videos of Cats, the best wedding dance and Poo Poo Broussard. It was a good night.

More when I am able to get the time to do so.

Kenith

One of my good friends at work decided to have a little fun at my expense. I just checked my Email and found a letter from Craig C, who is working to day, in the in box. (BTW- He did not misspell Huguenot. It is spelled the way he intended) Here is what he wrote:

SWLA Public Avoidance #1

Though he is little known to everyone, The Cajun Huganut Monk named public avoidance #1 by Church leaders and acquaintances around South West Louisiana has been making waves in the Community. Along with fellow Huganut’s, mostly dysfunctional converts, his writings appears frequently by E-Mail, Forums, Blogs. There, he addresses ridiculously unimportant topics of little or no significance, free from the censorship imposed by PCA, SBC, FBI, OCW or COP authorities as seen in the infamous cartoons of Huganut portraying a Top Operator. Huganut’s informs on little-known and unimportant not to mention boring information have become a thorn in the side of any who are in ears distance of Huganut.

Incapable of concentrating; the only strategy left for Huganut is printing tons of useless unimportant, uninteresting information (which has sparked a $50 bounty on his head by the United Paper Workers due to increasing amounts of Overtime & a $500 by several environmental groups “Tree Huggers”). When his name is mentioned, the public cringes. Knowing him as a boring trouble-making, who is backed by Pappy Van Winkle. They could easily refute his points, they insist, “but who cares”.

Huganut is an unusual figure: Robed in Red Velvet, with a huge flask around his neck, he sits with both the Gun and the Internet in easy reach. Huganut’s followers are one of the newest most unusual bunches (plum weird, outcast) among the communities in SWLA. In many respects come to personify the term “different”. But the fiery Huganut does not submit, and minces no words; He confuses everyone. He has singly made his Blogism which he uses to highlight his own boring info on anyone that will receive it.

The result? Mass confusion. The very public conversion of high-profile Tribal Missionary. Who only stopped for directions, is only the tip of the iceberg. Indeed, someone stated a while back that there are about “a” convert to the Huganut’s annually, many of them persuaded by Intoxication.

I immediately called Craig at work. I told him that the only part that bothered me was the fact that it was all true. We had a good laugh together.

Kenith

Yesterday, My Father-in-law and I went fishing. We caught a few pass. Most of them were small and we only had one "keeper" so we released all of them. On the way back to town we stopped in Gillis and ate cheese burgers at Boskies (spelling?).

Lisa went with Donna to see a doctor in Houston. I picked up the boys at school and fixed supper.

It was a pretty normal day.

This morning I completed a biography (published in 1908) of Erasmus, by John Alfred Faulkner. It was a good and informative read. This is the first full biography of Erasmus that I've read. I've read a good bit about him in the past, but it was good to get this bigger picture of this important man.

Later
Kenith

In my blog the other day I did not mention what we did Friday before last. Woody and the boys and I (later to be joined by MK) went to Longville. We went to fish at my sister's pond and Woody brought is new kayak. The fishing sucked, but we had a good time with the kayak.

----

Today the boys, my Paw-in-law and I went to Longville again. I did catch one small bass, but other than that they were not biting. After that we went to my parents house for coffee. My brother Terry had caught a bunch of bass at the pond earlier in the day. He fried them at and they were great.

Tonight I made a several posts on Christian forums' Semper Reformanda defending my post titled Luther and Erasmus. Lisa and I also went on an evening walk around the neighbourhood.

Later,
Kenith

Ps. Yes, thats me all wet in the kayak. I was the first person to flip the kayak/ I was trying to catch a small turtle.

Saturday, we boiled and dyed eggs for Easter. Sunday we worshipped at Bethel and then returned home. We returned home and at dinner, Lisa had prepared Spaghetti and it was very good. After dinner I hid eggs for the boys and they hunted eggs. They were competing to see who was the best egg hunter. It was very unusual, because they tied three times.

After the egg hunts we went to the porch were we were joined by Elizabeth and Woody. We paqued eggs. (Pâques is the French word for Easter) Paquing eggs is old Cajun tradition. Two people battle to see who has the toughest egg. We do this by tapping the pointy end of two eggs together until one of the eggs cracks. The strongest egg wins.

The above pictures are the boys paquing with Elizabeth and Woody. (BTW: Their baby -- we call her/him Pudin Tater -- is due in May). If you look closely at Woody's egg you will see that he lost that battle.

On Monday the boys and I went to Florida to visit Christian. While in Pensicola we visited and old fort, the Naval Aviation. One extra treat is that the Blue Angels train every morning at 8:30 and you can watch them for free. It was a great treat.

We came back home Wednesday. We stopped in Mobile and toured the USS Alabama, etc...

It was good to see Christian and the boys had a great time.

Later,

Kenith

I finished my graveyard shift this morning. We had a busy set of nights at work. Usually nights are rather slow. You get to work, make relief with the person who work the same job that day, get a cup off coffee, log onto a computer, read the notes from the previous shift, read your orders for the night, check your email, and then make a round through your units (i.e. if you are an "outside operator" you go to your units and check out your equipment or if your on the "board person" and running things from the control room , you look over the units on several computer screens. You observe the flows, temperatures pressures, etc... on on your equipment).

We had lots of pumps, compressors, units and other items to prepare or put back in service this series of nights, so that kept us busy, The units that were running were struggling so the folks running the board (the control computers) were also busy. I'm the "top operator" on our shift. The top operator is not a foreman, the "top" is more like a lead man. The "top" works with both the inside and outside operators. He also is the one who communicates with the shift foreman.

Well, I finished this morning and I've started vacation and won't go back to work for a couple of weeks. Hallelujah!!!!

I hope to take the boys fishing Friday. They start their Easter holiday on Good Friday.

One more thing. Today is the 25th anniversary of Lisa and my first date. I had flowers sent to her at work today. I can remember the day of our first date because it was three days before my 23 birthday.

Our first date was a near blind date. I had seen her once before, from a distance, in the dark. My brother Terry decided to set us up. He bugged me for days to go out with Lisa, I was not sure what she looked like, and finally gave in and agreed to a double date, just to get him off my back.

Lisa and I met on March 19, 1983 and five and a half months later we got married. We've had our bumps, but it has been a good match. We have had a good relationship. I've got as good or better marriage than anyone else I know. God has blessed me with a beautiful wife, who is my best friend and the mother of our four children.

Later,
Kenith

Today was a typical day in my life. I got up with Lisa and the kids. Lisa took the boys to school and then she left for work. I took it easy this morning. I Wrote on my blog, posted on some blogs I visit and on Christian Forums. I read some and did a little cleaning.

After that I ran some errands returned home, did a few exorcises and some more cleaning, mostly in the garage and kitchen. When the time came I picked up the boys at school. They climbed into the truck bed and we came home.

My youngest son and I played sword fighting in the backyard for a while. He won the sword fight. For supper the boys and I made omelets. The broke the eggs, mixed them, poured them in the pan and added the condiments and I did the folding and serving. Lisa called when she left work for home and I made her an omelet so that it was ready when she got home.

As the sun was going down we built a fire in the fire pot on the porch and talked for a while. As the fire was burning down and it was time for the boys to take their baths, we came inside. Now I will go say their prayers with them and get ready for bed. Then Lisa and I will visit some more.

That's a fairly typical day in my fairly mundane life. I enjoy my life (most of the time).

Coram Deo,
Kenith

Yesterday, I got up with the family. I brought the boys to school, came home and spoke with Morgan about a paper she’s writing for school. Then I went to St. Michael’s Episcopal Church for their Wednesday morning Eucharist service.

After that I picked up lunch for Morgan and then for Lisa. Mona Kay was there to visit Lisa and so I hung out for a while and visited with them. I then went to Lake Street Liquor Store to discuss what I needed for Morgan and Danny’s wedding reception. While there I picked up a fifth of Scotch and a bottle of Ouzo.

I came back to home in time to pick the boy’s up from school. The boys jumped in the back of the truck and we headed to the house. When I got home I played fetch with Oakly for a good while.

Gary J. came over. I offered him a Guinness or we could try the new Scotch I had picked up. He opted for the Scotch. I got the bottle, jiggers, ice, and we sat of the porch and poured a couple of jiggers of Aberlour 12 year old single malt Scotch. It is a good Scotch.

Woody saw us on the porch as he was driving by, and so he pulled in and joined us on the porch. We had a very good visit while enjoying our Scotch. MK also showed up later that evening as did Elisabeth.

It was a good day full of family and friends.

Coram Deo,
Kenith

Marc, one of my best friends while in the Navy, has emailed some old pictures to me. These pictures were taken while he and I were on "Detachment" to Atzugi, Japan and on board the USS Lockwhood (1981). Here they are:

Hanger surfing after a hard rain at NAS Atzugi

Chief Bynoe and me (in my flight suit)

Me on the flight line at Atzugi.

That's me and Chief Bynoe behind me on the flight line.

Getting ready to take off. (Cool eye glasses)

Me on board the USS Lockwood.

Marc going for a flight.

The H-2 Sea Sprite a fearful war machine of the Cold War.

Our view out of the "console" widow when coming in for a landing on the Lockwood.

A little R&R on board the Lockwood

Don Ferguson, (unknown), Ric Rew, and that me in the yellow
Ric having a little fun.

Marc and me on a train somewhere in Japan

Chief Gino Fuller, Jeff Faucher and me eating in Japan

That is me at a train station.

Jeff, me and Marc at Ground Zero (Hiroshima, Japan)

The Atomic Dome - one of the few buildings to survive the atomic blast in Hiroshima. Today it's a memorial of that day when the power of the atom was released on man.
Marc, thanks for the pictures. Sorry I took so long getting them on the blog. I've been working too much.

Later,

Kenith

Our latest shutdown is over. When I walked out the gate this morning, my part in the unit start up was over. We are ready to finish starting up but we were prevented from doing so because of problems in other areas of the refinery. Once again our area leader pulled everyone of the shutdown before it was completed, but I am glad that I will be able to stay home and sleep in my own bed tonight. I will also get a full day off work tomorrow before I start days on my regular shift on Thursday.

This morning after leaving work I went to Izzy's and fed his dog. He has been out of town and I take care of his dog when ever he is gone. After feeding his dog I came home and played fetch with Oakly for a little while. It is 37 degrees outside, that is cold for this time of the year. The sun was coming up as I tossed Oakly's toy and there were bird's singing. It was so nice.

After that I went inside and woke the boys for school. I am now getting ready t go to bed and Lisa will finish getting the boys feed and off to school.

Kenith

I was yanked from my regular shift earlier this week and placed on another shutdown. We had trouble in one area which dominoed through the refinery. The original troubles did not affect us, but when one of the units was starting back up, they sent bad product to our charge tank and that bad product took us out.

This shut down was not bad. We have done what was needed and tonight we should start coming back up and should be up and running by tomorrow sometime, if all goes as it should. I am hoping this is true, so I can have a couple of days off before I have to start back on days Thursday.

On Friday Lisa drove to Pensacola to visit Christian and she came home again today. Morgan and Kim (a niece) watched the boys while Lisa was out of town.

I have been doing a lot of searches and downloading from Google Books. It is a treasure trove. Books in the public domain can be downloaded for free. I am now going to do a new searh there as soon as I post this blog entry.

Coram Deo,
Kenith